As if the thought of her simply remaining at home unmarried any longer was a woe.

The meal finally dragged to its conclusion, which unfortunately meant that the string quartet went from soft serenades to livelier melodies that they’d be expected to dance to.

She couldn’t bear that. Not tonight. The moment Willsworth pulled her chair out for her again, she sprang to her feet, excuses ready to trip off her tongue.

“Well, what a pleasure it has been to make your acquaintance, Lady Elizabeth,” Lady Scofield said. She wore a gracious smile that said she forgave her for completely failing to hold up her end of the conversation.

“Quite so.” Lord Scofield helped his wife to her feet as well. “And when I see your brother next week for our squash game, I’ll be sure and tell him you were looking well and happy, that the seaside agrees with you.”

Escaping to the moon was sounding better and better. “You needn’t trouble yourself, sir.” She kept her tone casual—she hoped. Perhaps he’d forget by then that he’d ever met her and Bram would be none the wiser that she was in the Scillies. “I’ve been giving my mother regular updates.”

“No trouble at all, my dear.”

Her smile probably looked as weak as it felt. She spun away, mumbling something that vaguely resembled “Excuse me” to Lord Willsworth, her eyes flying over the group in search of Charlotte. She had to get out of here. Now. But if she left without telling anyone, they’d probably send someone to find her.

She eventually spotted her friend laughing with a young man who may or may not have been the wealthy Mr. Bryant. But she managed to catch Lottie’s eye and gesture her toward the garden gate she’d entered through, moving toward it herself even then.

Freedom beckoned from the road. A glance over her shoulder told her Lottie was coming, so she secured a bit of that liberty by stepping outside. Then took another step, and another. She was nearly to the road by the time Lottie surged through the gate, her laughter a half huff. “Libby Sinclair, where are you going?”

“I’m not feeling well. Thank you for having me, Lottie. It’s a lovely dinner party.”

“Well, you can’t just leave, not by yourself. We were going to have the Bankses walk with you.”

She didn’t even know who the Bankses were, but she wasn’t about to wait for them. “I’ll be fine. It’s right down the road.”

“But it’s full dark now.” Lottie edged closer, peering out into the night as if it might scarf her up whole. “And haven’t you heard all the stories in town? There’s been a ghost prowling lately.”